Strategic India-Norway Pact to Revolutionize Sustainable Manufacturing
In a significant move for India's sustainability landscape, Pune-based Greenex Environmental has forged a strategic international collaboration with Norway's EPD Global. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on Monday, November 24, aims to provide comprehensive services in the domain of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) to Indian businesses.
Boosting MSME Competitiveness in Global Markets
The joint managing directors of Greenex Environmental, Sagar Ahiwale and Arati Bhosale-Ahiwale, announced this landmark agreement at a news conference following the signing ceremony with Mr. Håkon Hauan, CEO of The Norwegian EPD Foundation (EPD-Norway). This exclusive partnership establishes a framework where Greenex will assess the environmental impact of products manufactured by Indian companies, while the Norwegian collaborator will issue the formal Environmental Product Declaration for each certified product.
Arati Bhosale-Ahiwale emphasized the growing global preference for EPD-certified products, noting that Indian SMEs stand to benefit significantly as international buyers increasingly prefer importing such products and may even offer premium prices. "Governments worldwide are insisting on reduced environmental impact of products and services. Though not mandatory currently, EPDs will become the standard in the near future," she stated.
Substantial Cost Reduction and Quality Enhancement
The collaboration brings substantial advantages to Indian manufacturers, particularly the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that form the backbone of India's export sector. The cost of obtaining EPD certification is expected to drop by approximately 70%, making international sustainability standards more accessible to businesses across various sectors.
Greenex Environmental, which has been in the EPD business for several years and has already worked with more than 50 businesses across chemicals, engineering, metals, and food industries, will leverage EPD Global's publication authority combined with its own technical expertise. This synergy will ensure that Indian manufacturers receive world-class support for developing and publishing EPDs that meet international standards.
Sagar Ahiwale highlighted that this initiative represents a significant milestone for sustainability in India and beyond, expected to create new employment opportunities, strengthen industry competitiveness, and accelerate the adoption of environmentally responsible practices. "The collaboration is a major step forward in helping organizations transition toward low-carbon, globally compliant operations," he added.
The partnership also aligns with India's broader environmental goals, including the target to achieve Net-Zero environmental impact by 2070. With existing offices in Pune, Mumbai, Gujarat, and Dubai, Greenex plans to expand its presence by opening new offices in major industrial centers across India, further facilitating access to sustainable certification services for manufacturers nationwide.
